Offshore Oil Rig Pay Covered by State Law? SCOTUS to Consider

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments April 16 on whether offshore drilling rig workers should receive the higher California minimum wage instead of the national standard, as well as other compensation and benefits guaranteed under the state’s wage and hour law.

The case, Parker Drilling Mgmt Servs. v. Newton, weighs whether the workers are covered by the federal law typically relied on by the industry or the more worker-friendly California law. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in February 2018 ruled for former rig worker Brian Newton, finding the California law should apply for those ...